It's only been two weeks since the 2014 MLB Draft and the Oregon Ducks' recruiting class has already taken a big hit.

Four Oregon recruits have signed with their drafting teams, with the biggest blow coming on Wednesday when top recruit Alex Jackson agreed to terms on a $4.2 million contract with the Seattle Mariners.

In addition to Jackson, 23rd overall pick Derek Hill has signed with Detroit, fifth round pick Casey Soltis signed with Miami and eighth round selection Branden Kelliher has inked a deal with Oakland.

The Ducks are still waiting to see whether other drafted recruits such as Brock Burke, David Peterson, Tim Susnara and Conor Harber will sign.

None of these signings have come to the surprise of George Horton, who said before the draft he was expecting several of his incoming freshmen to choose the professional route. The lure of starting a professional career and money is often times a trump card, he said. But that hasn't stopped the Ducks from seeking out players that may potentially spurn Oregon for the pros.

"If you ever want to coach an Alex Jackson," Horton said before the draft, "you have to sign him."

There are always those who slip through the cracks. Last year, it was expected that Matt Krook would fall through Oregon's fingers, but concerns with his physical with the Miami Marlins gave Oregon their most dominant pitcher for the first half of the 2014 season.

Horton acknowledged that isn't always going to happen, so the Ducks do seek out players who are less of a flight risk come draft time.

"You can't base your whole class on those types of guys or else you're playing Russian Roulette," he said.

But despite a chunk of a once prized recruiting class making its way to various minor league ball clubs over the coming weeks, don't expect things to change. The Ducks believe they can lure that top talent in, and that's what they say they need to compete in the top levels of college baseball.

"You need those kind of players so you can compete with the big boys," Horton said.